UPDATE: Bridge work continues, no major lane closings expected
Check out the view of the bridge—and traffic flow—from Erik Nicolaysen’s second floor window by clicking HERE.
Updated Monday, June 28, 2010
by Christine Yeres
This week workers will continue installation of the steel rebar—the green steel sticks—into which the concrete surface of the bridge will be poured in two or three weeks.
No major lane closings will be necessary. Once the concrete surface is poured, asphalt can be applied one week later, then traffic will run on the new southern bridge lane while the northern lane is demolished. The temporary caged sidewalk will remain in place through demolition of the bridge. Along with its bridge work, Conti crews will resurface King Street from the bridge up to Bedford Road, ending at D’Agostino’s, perhaps beginning this summer.
Will the temporary foot traffic bridge have to be moved to the south side so that demo of the north side can proceed?
I bet that by then, the real, actual sidewalk will be open alongside the finished side of the bridge. I can’t see any other way it could work. I bet that ugly temp. sidewalk will be demolished the minute the real bridge sidewalk opens.
I assume that this revised schedule depends on the passage by the State legislature of a final annual budget. Does it—or has New Castle obtained a commitment from the State to pay out the remainder of the amounts due to finish construction? If the latter, is there an escrow?
What a disgrace. And no action from our political leaders to speed this up. All voters should remember this in November.
I cannot believe what is happening with the lack of progress with the construction of the bridge. How upsetting to see how the construction that has been going on for years now has blighted the area and made it such an eyesore.
